Pet Custody

[cjlison]

When my girlfriend and I moved in together we decided to get a dog. When the dog was purchased it was done so in her name and she paid for him as well. I paid for all of the vet bills and the vet account lists the both of us as owners. The relationship has ended and she came to my current residence and took the dog while I was at work claiming that it is her dog because she paid for him. Do I have any legal right to fight for the ownership of the dog?

 

[jharris352]

When the dog was purchased it was done so in her name and she paid for him as well.

You answered your own question. Dogs are chattel, just like any other type of property. Let me ask you, if she bought a car, paid the payments and had it in her name but you did all the oil changes and maybe even changed the starter or paid to have it done, would you expect a piece of ownership for it? Of course not.

The dog belongs to her. Your vet bill payments don't give you ownership in any way.